JP2000046379A - Ice thermal storage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent flow-out of ice from a thermal storage tank by branching a supply tube for supplying the ice to the tank, supplying the ice along a liquid surface in the tank at the initial time of supplying the ice and drop supplying the ice from above from the liquid surface in the tank in the state that the ice of a certain amount is stored in the tank. SOLUTION: At the time of operating icemaking, a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 21 and condensed by a condenser 22 is pressure reduced by a motor operated expansion valve 23, and fed into a cooling tube 24a of a thermal storage heat exchanger 24. Here, the refrigerant exchanges heat with a water of a water circulating circuit 3, evaporated, and cold heat is given to the water to obtain ice of a slurry state. This ice is recovered into a thermal storage tank 41 via a supply tube 46, and stored as a cold heat source. In this case, at the initial time of starting supplying of the ice to the tank 41, the ice flowing through the tube 46 flows from a branch 47 into a thermal storage layer 41 via a lower side branch tube 49. Then in the case of storing the ice to a water level L, the ice is fed into the layer 41 via an upper side branch tube 48, and stored so as to drop on an upper side of the ice floated on the surface L.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice heat storage device for supplying ice into a heat storage tank and storing cold heat in the heat storage tank. In particular, the present invention relates to measures for stably supplying ice into the heat storage tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-31089
There is known an ice storage type air conditioner disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4 (JP-A) (Kokai) No. 4 (1994) -104. This type of air conditioner includes a chilled water circuit in which a heat storage tank and a load-side heat exchanger that uses cold storage heat are connected by piping. During the heat storage operation, water taken out of the heat storage tank is cooled to produce ice. For example, after water taken out of the heat storage tank is cooled to a supercooled state by a heat exchanger for generating cold water, the supercooled state is eliminated and ice is generated. The generated ice is returned to the heat storage tank to store cold heat. During the operation using cold heat, cold water is circulated between the heat storage tank and the load-side heat exchanger. That is, cold water is taken out of the heat storage tank and the cold heat is given to the load-side heat exchanger. The water whose temperature has risen in the load side heat exchanger is returned to the heat storage tank, and the water is cooled by ice in the heat storage tank. By this water circulation operation, indoor cooling using heat storage is performed.

[0003] This type of system is used particularly for building air-conditioning and the like, generates ice using midnight power, and extracts this cold heat during the day. This can contribute to a peak cut in daytime power demand.

There are the following arrangements of a supply pipe for supplying ice to a heat storage tank. First, in FIG. 9, the supply pipe (a) is disposed above the water surface (c) in the heat storage tank (b). The ice supplied from the supply pipe (a) into the heat storage tank (b) falls on the water surface (c) and is stored in the heat storage tank (b).

In FIG. 10, the supply pipe (a) is disposed at substantially the same height as the water surface (c) in the heat storage tank (b). The ice (I) supplied from the supply pipe (a) into the heat storage tank (b) is stored near the water surface (c).

[0006]

However, the conventional arrangement of the supply pipe (a) has the following problems. First, in the one shown in FIG. 9, the water surface (c) extends from the supply pipe (a).
The potential energy of ice falling on the surface is relatively large. At the beginning of ice making, the heat storage tank (b) is filled with water without ice. Therefore, the ice dropped from the supply pipe (a) may flow through the water toward the bottom of the heat storage tank (b) due to its potential energy and reach near the bottom (see the arrow in FIG. 9). An extraction pipe (d) for extracting water from the heat storage tank (b) is connected to a lower portion of the side surface of the heat storage tank (b). For this reason, ice that has fallen from the supply pipe (a) and has reached the bottom of the heat storage tank (b) may flow out of the extraction pipe (d).
In this case, ice cannot be satisfactorily stored in the heat storage tank (b). Furthermore, when the ice flowing out of the heat storage tank (b) reaches the heat exchanger for generating cold water, the flow path of the cold water heat exchanger is blocked by ice, and the generation of cold water cannot be performed smoothly. There is a risk that the ice making operation will be hindered.

On the other hand, in the one shown in FIG.
The ice supplied to the heat storage tank (b) from above is stored near the water surface by the action of buoyancy. Therefore, ice near the water surface may block the downstream end of the supply pipe (a). After the supply pipe (a) is closed, the ice supply operation cannot be performed, and a sufficient amount of ice cannot be stored in the heat storage tank (b).

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a purpose thereof is to generate ice by using a heat storage medium (water) taken out of a heat storage tank and store the ice in the heat storage tank. An object of the present invention is to stably store ice in an ice heat storage device and store a sufficient amount of ice in a heat storage tank.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems-Summary of the Invention-In order to achieve the above object, the present invention branches a supply pipe for supplying ice to a heat storage tank, and initially supplies the liquid in the heat storage tank at the beginning of ice supply. By supplying ice along the surface, the ice is supplied to the heat storage tank in a state where the potential energy of the ice is small. When a certain amount of ice is accumulated in the heat storage tank, the ice is dropped and supplied from above the liquid level in the heat storage tank to the upper side of the accumulated ice. This prevents ice from flowing out of the heat storage tank in any supply state.

-Solution Means- Specifically, a first solution means taken by the present invention is a heat storage tank (4).
The heat storage medium (W) taken out of 1) is cooled to produce ice (I), and the ice (I) is supplied into the heat storage tank (41) by the supply pipe (46), and the heat storage tank (41) is supplied. An ice heat storage device that stores cold heat inside is assumed. The supply pipe (46) is connected to the branch (4
The branch branches into an upper branch pipe (48) and a lower branch pipe (49) via 7). Connect the downstream end of the upper branch pipe (48) to the liquid level (L) of the heat storage medium (W).
Release at a higher position. On the other hand, the downstream end of the lower branch pipe (49) is opened horizontally at the level of the liquid level (L).

According to this specific matter, the heat storage medium (W) taken out of the heat storage tank (41) is cooled and becomes ice (I). This ice
When (I) reaches the branch portion (47) of the supply pipe (46), it flows into the lower branch pipe (49) by its own weight. The ice (I) flowing through the lower branch pipe (49) is supplied horizontally to the liquid level (L). By this supply operation, the supplied ice (I) does not flow into the bottom of the heat storage tank (41).

When a certain amount of ice (I) is stored on the liquid level (L),
The lower branch pipe (49) is closed by the ice (I). Due to this blockage, the state is switched to the supply state of ice from the upper branch pipe (48). Since the upper branch pipe (48) is open at a position higher than the liquid level (L), the ice (I) is supplied by falling. Since ice (I) supplied from the lower branch pipe (49) exists at the liquid level (L),
The dropped ice (I) falls onto the ice (I) on the liquid level (L). Therefore, the dropped ice (I) does not flow to the bottom of the heat storage tank (41).

According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the upper branch pipe (48) is provided so as to extend horizontally from the branch portion (47). A vertical portion (49a) extending downward from the branch portion (47) to the lower branch pipe (49), and a liquid level from the lower end of the vertical portion (49a).
And a horizontal portion (49b) extending horizontally along (L).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the downstream end of the lower branch pipe (49) is connected to a plurality of outlet pipes (4).
9c, 49d, 49e). These multiple outlet pipes (49c, 49d,
Part (49c) of 49e) is opened in a different direction from the other outflow pipes (49d, 49e).

According to this specific matter, the ice (I) supplied from the lower branch pipe (49) to the liquid level (L) in the heat storage tank (41) is discharged from each outlet pipe.
(49c, 49d, 49e) to supply them in different directions. Therefore, the ice (I) is supplied over a wide range on the liquid level (L).

The fourth solution is based on the same premise as that of the first solution. And supply pipe (9)
It branches into an upper branch pipe (92) and a lower branch pipe (93) via a branch part (91). Connect the downstream end of the upper branch pipe (92) to the heat storage medium (W).
At a position higher than the liquid level (L). On the other hand, the lower branch pipe (93) is extended horizontally in the heat storage tank (41) at the level of the liquid level (L), and the lower branch pipe (93) is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction. Supply holes open horizontally
(93c, 93c, ...).

According to this specific matter, as in the case of the third solution described above, the ice over a wide range on the liquid level (L) can be obtained.
(I) will be supplied. In particular, when extracting cold heat from the heat storage tank (41), the heat storage medium for extracting the cold heat is used.
(W) from the horizontal portion (93b) of the lower branch pipe (93) into the heat storage tank (41), a plurality of supply holes (93c, 9
3c,...), The heat storage medium is supplied to the ice (I), so that a high cold heat extraction efficiency can be obtained. At this time, the heat storage medium
(W) is supplied from the horizontal direction to the ice (I) near the liquid level (L), so that only the upper part of the ice (I) is melted. In this way, the ice (I) in which only the upper portion has melted moves upward by the action of buoyancy, and the portion that has not yet been melted is positioned above the liquid level (L). In this state, the heat storage medium (W) is jetted in a substantially horizontal direction again to the ice newly floating above the liquid surface (L). By repeating such an operation, the ice (I) is melted in order from the upper side. Therefore, the heat storage medium (W) flows through only a part of the ice (I) and the heat storage medium
The occurrence of so-called "mizumichi", in which heat exchange between (W) and ice (I) is hardly performed, can be avoided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect, the diameter of the downstream end of the upper branch pipe (48, 92) is reduced to form a narrowed portion (48a, 92a). .

According to this specific matter, the upper branch pipe (48, 92)
At the downstream end of the, there is resistance to the flow of ice (I). Therefore, at the initial stage of the operation of supplying the ice (I) to the heat storage tank (41), it is possible to reliably flow the ice (I) to the lower branch pipe (49).
In addition, even when a configuration using the lower branch pipe (93) for taking out cold heat is adopted, the heat storage medium can be reliably flowed to the lower branch pipe (49).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect, the upper branch pipe (48, 92) comprises a plurality of branch pipes extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The branch pipes are arranged in a vertical direction.

According to this specific matter, the upper branch pipe (48, 92)
During the supply operation of ice (I), ice (I) is supplied from the lowermost branch pipe of the vertically arranged branch pipes, and when this branch pipe is blocked by ice (I), the upper part of the branch pipe is closed. Ice (I) is supplied from the branch pipe. In this way, the branch pipe for supplying ice (I) is sequentially switched to the upper branch pipe,
A relatively large amount of ice (I) can be stored above the liquid level (L).

[0022]

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the ice heat storage device according to the present invention is applied to an air conditioner will be described. The ice heat storage device of the present embodiment is of a dynamic type that generates slurry ice.

-Description of Circuit Configuration- FIG. 1 shows a piping system diagram of an air conditioner (1) according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the present air conditioner
(1) includes a refrigeration circuit (2) and a water circulation circuit (3).

The refrigeration circuit (2) performs a vapor compression refrigeration cycle to apply cold or warm water to the water circulating in the water circulation circuit (3). In the refrigeration circuit (2), the refrigerant pipe (24a) of the compressor (21), the four-way switching valve (27), the condenser (22), the electric expansion valve (23), and the heat storage heat exchanger (24) It is constituted by being connected by a pipe (25). The switching operation of the four-way switching valve (27) makes the circulation direction of the refrigerant reversible.

The water circulation circuit (3) includes a heat storage circuit section (4) and a utilization circuit section (5). The heat storage circuit section (4) turns water, which is a heat storage medium taken out of the heat storage tank (41), into ice with cold received from the refrigeration circuit (2), and stores the ice in the heat storage tank (41). Alternatively, the water is heated by the heat received from the refrigeration circuit (2), and the hot water is stored in the heat storage tank (41). The utilization circuit section (5) takes out the cold or warm heat stored in the heat storage tank (41) and contributes to the indoor cooling or heating. Less than,
Each circuit section (4, 5) will be described in detail.

The heat storage circuit (4) includes a heat storage tank (41) and a pump (4).
2), water pipe (24b) of heat storage heat exchanger (24), subcooling elimination part (43)
Are sequentially connected by a water pipe (44). The heat storage heat exchanger (24) exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe (24a) and the water flowing through the water pipe (24b). Thereby, the water is cooled to a supercooled state, or the water is heated to a predetermined temperature.
The supercooling elimination unit (43) eliminates the supercooling of the supercooled water to generate slurry ice. As means for eliminating the supercooling, an ice nucleus is generated inside the supercooling eliminating section (43), and a thermal shock is applied to the supercooled water around the ice nucleus to perform the supercooling eliminating operation. Further, the supercooling water may be subjected to an impact such as vibration to perform the supercooling elimination operation. pump
The suction side of (42) is connected to the lower part of the side surface of the heat storage tank (41) via an extraction pipe (45). On the downstream side of the subcooling elimination section (43),
It is connected to the upper side of the heat storage tank (41) via the supply pipe (46). The configuration of the supply pipe (46) will be described later.

The utilization circuit section (5) is a closed circuit in which the heat storage tank (41) and the indoor heat exchanger (51) are connected by a pipe. The indoor heat exchanger (51) has a three-way valve on the discharge side of the pump (42).
(6) connection. One port of the three-way valve (6) is connected to the water pipe (24b) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24) via a pipe. The downstream side (high temperature side) of the indoor heat exchanger (51) is connected to the upper side of the heat storage tank (41) via the recovery pipe (52). Thereby, cold or hot water is circulated between the heat storage tank (41) and the indoor heat exchanger (51) to supply cold or hot heat to the indoor heat exchanger (51). In the present embodiment, the extraction pipe (45) and the pump (42) are shared by the heat storage circuit section (4) and the utilization circuit section (5). The switching operation of the three-way valve (6) switches between a state in which water is circulated through the heat storage circuit section (4) and a state in which water is circulated through the utilization circuit section (5).

-Description of heat storage tank (41)-Next, the configuration of the heat storage tank (41) will be described. As shown in FIG. 2 (side view of the inside of the heat storage tank (41)), this heat storage tank (41)
Can store water (W) and ice (I) or hot water generated in the heat storage circuit section (4).

The shape of the downstream end of the supply pipe (46) for supplying ice or hot water to the heat storage tank (41) will be described below. The supply pipe (46) penetrates the side wall of the heat storage tank (41). The penetration position is the water surface (liquid surface) in the heat storage tank (41).
It is slightly above (L). This supply pipe (46) is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the inside of the heat storage tank (41) is branched into two branch pipes (48, 49) via a branch part (47). These branch pipes
One of (48,49) is an upper branch pipe (48). The upper branch pipe (48) extends in the horizontal direction from the branch part (47), and opens at the center of the heat storage tank (41) in plan view. The open portion of the upper branch pipe (48) is formed as a throttle (48a) having a slightly reduced pipe diameter. In other words, this upper branch pipe (4
The open part of 8) has a configuration in which a flow path resistance is given.

Another of the branch pipes (48, 49) is a lower branch pipe (49). As shown in FIG. 3, the lower branch pipe (49) has a vertical section (49a) extending downward from the branch section (47).
And a horizontal portion (49b) extending horizontally from the lower end of the vertical portion (49a) at the same height as the liquid level (L). This horizontal part
The downstream end of (49b) is the first outlet as the outlet pipe in the present invention.
To the third three branch pipes (49c, 49d, 49e).
Among these branch pipes (49c, 49d, 49e), the first branch pipe (49c)
The heat storage tank (41) extends in parallel with the upper branch pipe (48), and opens at a central portion in plan view of the heat storage tank (41). Other second and third
The branch pipes (49d, 49e) branch off from both sides of the first branch pipe (49c), and are opened in a direction opposite to the opening direction of the first branch pipe (49c). In other words, these three branch pipes (4
9c, 49d, 49e), the first branch pipe (49c) opens in the same direction as the upper branch pipe (48), and the second and third branch pipes (49d, 49e) open in the opposite direction. These first to third branch pipes (49c, 4
By supplying ice from 9d, 49e), ice is supplied to a wide area in the heat storage tank (41).

Incidentally, (7) in FIG. 2 is a filter for suppressing the outflow of ice (I) from the discharge pipe (45).

-Explanation of Operation- Next, the operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described. Here, the ice making operation for storing ice (I) in the heat storage tank (41) and the ice storage operation in the heat storage tank (41) are described.
A description will be given mainly of a cooling-heat-using operation operation of performing indoor cooling using the cooling heat of (I).

(Ice making operation) First, the ice making operation will be described. In this operation, the four-way switching valve (27) switches to the solid line side in the figure, and the compressor (21) of the refrigeration circuit (2) and the pump (42) of the water circulation circuit (3) are driven. Also, three-way valve
(6) connects the discharge side of the pump (42) to the water pipe of the heat storage heat exchanger (24).
A switching state is established to communicate with (24b).

In the refrigeration circuit (2), the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) and condensed in the condenser (22) is decompressed by the electric expansion valve (23), and the refrigerant pipe of the heat storage heat exchanger (24) (24a). In this heat storage heat exchanger (24), the refrigerant exchanges heat with water in the water circulation circuit (3) and evaporates. At this time, cold is given to the water. The evaporated refrigerant returns to the suction side of the compressor (21).
The above refrigerant circulation operation is performed in the refrigeration circuit (2).

On the other hand, in the water circulation circuit (3), the heat storage circuit section (4)
The water circulates. That is, the water taken out of the heat storage tank (41) passes through the pump (42) and the three-way valve (6), and the heat storage heat exchanger (24).
Into the water pipe (24b).

In the heat storage heat exchanger (24), water receives cold heat from the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit (2). Thereby, the water is cooled to a supercooled state. The supercooled water is released from the supercooling in the supercooling elimination section (43), and becomes slurry ice. This ice is collected in the heat storage tank (41) by the supply pipe (46) and stored as a cold heat source.

Next, the operation of supplying ice into the heat storage tank (41) by the supply pipe (46) will be described. First, the heat storage tank (41)
At the beginning of the supply of ice (I) to the inside, the ice (I) flowing in the supply pipe (46) reaches the branch (47), where the ice (I) is weighed by its own weight and the lower branch pipe (49). ). Further, as described above, since the throttle portion (48a) is formed in the open portion of the upper branch pipe (48), a flow path resistance is given to this portion. Therefore, supply of ice (I) from the upper branch pipe (48) is reliably prevented.

The ice (I) flowing through the lower branch pipe (49) passes through the vertical part (49a) and the horizontal part (49b) of the lower branch pipe (49), and then passes through the downstream end of the horizontal part (49b). From each branch pipe (49c, 49d, 49e)
It is supplied on the water surface (L) in (41). That is, the first branch pipe
Ice flows out from (49c) to the right in FIG. 3, and ice flows out from the second and third branch pipes (49d, 49e) to the left in FIG. 3 (see arrows in FIG. 3). Therefore, the heat storage tank (4
Ice is supplied to a wide area in 1), and as shown in FIG.
Ice (I) is stored in a floating state over the entire water surface (L) in the heat storage tank (41).

Such an operation of supplying ice is continuously performed. As shown in Fig. 4 (b), a certain amount of ice
As (I) accumulates, the ice (I) causes the lower branch pipe (4
The open ends of the branch pipes (49c, 49d, 49e) of 9) are gradually closed. Due to this blockage, the flow resistance of the ice (I) in each branch pipe (49c, 49d, 49e) increases, and part of the ice (I) flowing through the branch part (47) becomes an upper branch pipe (48). It will flow into. The ice (I) flowing through the upper branch pipe (48) is dropped and supplied into the heat storage tank (41) through the narrowed portion (48a) of the upper branch pipe (48). The supplied ice (I) falls on the ice (I) floating on the water surface (L). Due to the presence of the floating ice (I), the ice (I) dropped and supplied from the upper branch pipe (48) does not flow to the bottom in the heat storage tank (41). That is, the ice (I) does not flow out of the heat storage tank (41) from the extraction pipe (45).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), when a large amount of ice (I) is stored near the water surface (L), the ice (I) causes each branch of the lower branch pipe (49). The open ends of the tubes (49c, 49d, 49e) are completely closed. In this state, the first to third branch pipes (4
No ice (I) flows out of 9c, 49d, 49e). Therefore, supply pipe (4
All of the ice (I) flowing through 6) is stored in the heat storage tank by the upper branch pipe (48).
(41). Thus, the operation of supplying ice is performed, and the compressor (21) and the pump (42) are stopped in a state where a predetermined amount of ice is stored in the heat storage tank (41), and the ice making operation is completed.

(Cold Heat Utilization Operation) Next, the cold heat utilization operation will be described. In this operation, the refrigeration circuit
The compressor (21) of (2) is stopped. The pump (42) of the water circulation circuit (3) is driven. Further, the three-way valve (6) is in a switching state in which the discharge side of the pump (42) communicates with the indoor heat exchanger (51).

The cold water cooled by the ice (I) in the heat storage tank (41) is taken out by a take-out pipe (45), and is taken out by a pump (42).
And it flows into the indoor heat exchanger (51) via the three-way valve (6). Here, the cold water exchanges heat with room air to cool the room air. Thereafter, the water whose temperature has increased due to this heat exchange is collected in the heat storage tank (41) via the collection pipe (52), and is cooled again by ice. Such a water circulation operation is continuously performed to cool the room.

(Other operation operations) During the heat storage operation for storing hot water in the heat storage tank (41), the four-way switching valve (27) switches to the broken line side in the figure. Water is heated by the refrigerant in the heat storage heat exchanger (24) to become hot water, and the hot water is stored in the heat storage tank (41).
Is stored within.

In the heat utilization operation operation in which the interior of the room is heated by using the heat of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank (41), the hot water circulates through the utilization circuit section (5) and the hot water and the indoor air are exchanged. Exchange heat.

-Effects of Embodiment- As described above, in this embodiment, at the initial stage of the ice making operation, the branch pipes (49c, 49d, 49e) of the lower branch pipe (49) are connected to the heat storage tank (41). Ice is supplied near the water surface inside. For this reason,
Even in a state where almost no ice is present in the heat storage tank (41), the ice supplied to the heat storage tank (41) reaches the bottom in the heat storage tank (41) and is taken out from the extraction pipe (45). It does not flow out of the heat storage tank (41).

When a certain amount of ice is stored in the heat storage tank (41), the falling supply of ice from the upper branch pipe (48) is started. For this reason, even if the lower branch pipe (49) is closed by ice, ice can be favorably supplied into the heat storage tank (41).
When the ice is dropped and supplied from the upper branch pipe (48), since ice is present in the heat storage tank (41), the dropped ice does not reach the bottom of the heat storage tank (41). Absent. Therefore, when supplying ice from the upper branch pipe (48), the extraction pipe (45) is also used.
It does not flow out of the heat storage tank (41).

As described above, in this embodiment, while a sufficient amount of ice can be stored in the heat storage tank (41), the ice may flow out of the extraction pipe (45) during the ice supply operation. Can be avoided. Further, since a sufficient amount of ice (I) can be stored in the heat storage tank (41), it is possible to effectively take out cold heat during the operation using cold heat.

[0048]

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This form is a heat storage tank (41)
The circuit configuration of the water circulation circuit (3) is simplified by improving the shape of the pipe connected to the water circulation circuit.

First, the differences between the circuit configuration of the water circulation circuit (3) and the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the water circulation circuit (3) of this embodiment is an indoor heat exchanger.
The recovery pipe (52) on the downstream side of (51) and the supply pipe (46) on the downstream side of the subcooling elimination section (43) are connected via a three-way valve (8) and shared.
(9), and this shared pipe (9) penetrates the upper side of the heat storage tank (41). In the present embodiment, the shared pipe (9) corresponds to the supply pipe in the present invention.

The difference between the downstream end of the shared pipe (9) and the downstream end of the supply pipe (46) of the first embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 6, the common pipe (9) also has an upper branch pipe (92) and a lower branch pipe (93) via a branch part (91).
Has branched to. The lower branch pipe (93) has a vertical part (93a) extending downward from the branch part (91), and a horizontal part (93b) extending horizontally from the lower end of the vertical part (93a) near the liquid surface (L). And The horizontal portion (93b) extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the upper branch pipe (92). This horizontal part (93
On both sides of b), a plurality of openings (93c, 93c, ...) as supply holes
Are formed. This opening (93c, 93c, ...) is inserted into the heat storage tank (4
It is formed near the liquid level (L) in 1). This opening (93c, 93
c,...), ice can be supplied into the heat storage tank (41).

In the ice making operation of this embodiment, the three-way valve
(8) becomes a switching state in which the supply pipe (46) communicates with the shared pipe (9), and the same operation as in the case of Embodiment 1 described above is performed. In other words, at the beginning of the ice making operation,
Ice is supplied near the water surface (L) from each opening (93c, 93c,...) Of the lower branch pipe (93) (see the arrow in FIG. 6B). When a certain amount of ice is supplied, each opening (93c, 9c) of the lower branch pipe (93) is opened.
3c,...) Are closed, and the state is switched to the supply state of ice from the upper branch pipe (92). Therefore, also in the ice making operation of this embodiment, the same ice supply operation as that of the above-described embodiment is performed, and while a sufficient amount of ice can be stored in the heat storage tank (41), the ice is taken out of the pipe. The situation of flowing out from (45) can be avoided.

On the other hand, in the operation using the cold heat, the three-way valve (8)
Becomes a switching state in which the collection pipe (52) and the shared pipe (9) are communicated with each other. The heat storage tank (41) and the indoor heat exchanger (51)
(45), the collection pipe (52) and the common pipe (9) communicate with each other to form a closed circuit. By circulating water through this closed circuit, cold water is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (51) to cool the room as in the case of the above-described embodiment. The water whose temperature has increased due to heat exchange with the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger (51) returns to the heat storage tank (41) via the shared pipe (9). This water flows into the lower branch pipe (93) of the common pipe (9), and the openings (93c, 93) of the lower branch pipe (93).
c,...) and spread on the ice in the heat storage tank (41).

As described above, in the present embodiment, in both the ice making operation and the cold operation, the common pipe (9) is used for the heat storage tank (4).
1) Ice and water are supplied inside. Therefore, it is necessary to separately provide a pipe for supplying ice into the heat storage tank (41) during the ice making operation and a pipe for collecting water in the heat storage tank (41) during the cold heat operation. Absent. As a result, the water circulation circuit
The circuit configuration of (3) can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the water can be sprayed over a wide area in the heat storage tank (41) during the operation using the cold heat, the cold heat can be effectively extracted.

Further, in the operation using the cold heat of this embodiment,
(W) is sprayed in a substantially horizontal direction on ice (I) located above the liquid level (L) in the heat storage tank (41). Thereby, only the upper part of the ice (I) is melted. In this way, the ice (I) in which only the upper portion has melted moves upward by the action of buoyancy, and the portion that has not yet been melted is positioned above the liquid level (L). In this state, the water (W) is sprayed in a substantially horizontal direction on the ice (I) newly floating above the liquid level (L). By repeating such an operation, ice is melted in order from the upper side. Therefore, the "water path" does not occur.

(Modification) Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the shared pipe
(9) is an improvement. As shown in FIG. 7, the downstream end of the shared pipe (9) is located on one side (left end in FIG. 7B) in the heat storage tank (41). That is, the shared pipe (9) has a branch portion (91) near a portion penetrating the side surface of the heat storage tank (41), and the upper branch pipe (92) and the lower branch pipe (92) are connected through the branch portion (91). It branches into a branch pipe (93). The shape of the upper branch pipe (92) is the same as that of the second embodiment. Lower branch pipe (93)
Has a vertical portion (93a) and a horizontal portion (93b), similarly to the second embodiment described above. On the side of the horizontal part (93b) facing the center of the heat storage tank (41), multiple nozzles
(93d, 93d,...) Are provided. This nozzle (93d, 93d,
…) Supplies ice and water into the heat storage tank (41).

The configurations of the refrigeration circuit (2) and the water circulation circuit (3) in this embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment. Therefore, the description is omitted here.

In this embodiment, as in the above-described second embodiment, both the ice making operation and the cold heat operation can be performed by supplying ice or water into the heat storage tank (41) using the shared pipe (9). is there. Therefore, the circuit configuration of the water circulation circuit (3) can be simplified. Also, during the operation using cold heat, the heat storage tank (4
1) Water can be sprayed over a wide area, so that cold heat can be extracted effectively.

[0058]

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called secondary refrigerant system.

As shown in FIG. 8, an air conditioner (1) according to this embodiment includes a primary refrigerant circuit (2), a secondary refrigerant circuit (10),
A water circulation circuit (3) is provided.

The primary refrigerant circuit (2) includes a compressor (21), a condenser (22), an electric expansion valve (23), and a primary flow path (26a) of an intermediate heat exchanger (26). They are sequentially connected by a pipe (25).

The secondary refrigerant circuit (10) includes a refrigerant pump (11),
The indoor heat exchanger (51), the secondary flow path (26) of the intermediate heat exchanger (26)
b), the refrigerant pipe (24a) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24 ') is a refrigerant pipe (12)
It is configured to be connected by. Specifically, the secondary flow path (26b) of the intermediate heat exchanger (26) and the indoor heat exchanger (51) are connected by a liquid pipe (LL) and a gas pipe (LG) to form a closed circuit. are doing. A first motor-operated valve (EV1) is provided upstream of the indoor heat exchanger (51). Refrigerant pump (11) is liquid piping
(LL). The liquid pipe (LL) and the gas pipe (LG) are connected by a bypass pipe (13). Heat storage heat exchanger
(24 ') is provided in the bypass pipe (13), and the refrigerant pipe (24a) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24') communicates with the bypass pipe (13). Bypass pipe (1) on the liquid side of the heat storage heat exchanger (24 ')
3) is branched, and one first branch pipe (13a) is connected to the refrigerant pump (1).
On the suction side of (1), the other second branch pipe (13b) is connected to the refrigerant pump (1).
Each is connected to the discharge side of 1). 1st branch pipe (13a)
Is provided with a second motor-operated valve (EV2). Second branch pipe (13
b) is provided with a third motor-operated valve (EV3).

The water circulation circuit (3) comprises a heat storage tank (41), a water pump
(42), water pipe (24b) of heat storage heat exchanger (24 '), supercooling elimination section
(43) are sequentially connected by a water pipe (44). The heat storage heat exchanger (24 ') includes a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe (24a) and a water pipe (24b).
Heat exchange with the flowing water. As a structure of a pipe for supplying ice into the heat storage tank (41), a supply pipe (46) similar to that of the above-described second embodiment is provided, although not shown. That is, pipes (upper branch pipe and lower branch pipe) for supplying ice are switched according to the amount of ice stored in the heat storage tank (41). In the circuit configuration of the present embodiment, the heat storage tank (41)
As a structure of a pipe for supplying ice to the inside, a configuration of a modification of the first or second embodiment may be adopted. The above is the configuration of the circulation circuit of the refrigerant and the water in the present embodiment.

-Description of Operation- Next, the operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described. Here, a normal cooling operation in which heat is transferred between the primary refrigerant circuit (2) and the secondary refrigerant circuit (10), and an ice making operation in which ice (I) is stored in the heat storage tank (41). Action and
A description will be mainly given of a cold-heat utilizing operation operation of performing indoor cooling by utilizing the cool heat of the ice (I) stored in the heat storage tank (41).

(Normal Cooling Operation) First, the normal cooling operation will be described. In this operation, the four-way switching valve (27)
Is switched to the solid line side in the figure, and the compressor (21) of the primary refrigerant circuit (2) and the refrigerant pump (11) of the secondary refrigerant circuit (10) are driven. The water pump (42) of the water circulation circuit (3) is stopped.
The opening of the electric expansion valve (23) of the primary refrigerant circuit (2) and the first electric valve (EV1) of the secondary refrigerant circuit (10) are adjusted. Other electric valves (EV2, EV3) are closed.

In the primary refrigerant circuit (2), refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) and condensed in the condenser (22) is supplied to the electric expansion valve (23).
, And flows into the primary flow path (26a) of the intermediate heat exchanger (26). This refrigerant exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10) in the intermediate heat exchanger (26) and evaporates. On this occasion,
Cold heat is given to the refrigerant in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10). The evaporated refrigerant in the primary refrigerant circuit (2) returns to the suction side of the compressor (21). The above refrigerant circulation operation is performed in the primary refrigerant circuit (2).

On the other hand, in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10), the flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant pump (11) is adjusted by the first electric valve (EV1) and supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (51). This refrigerant exchanges heat with room air and evaporates. At this time, cool air is given to the indoor air, and this cool heat contributes to indoor cooling. The evaporated refrigerant is supplied to the secondary side flow path (26) of the intermediate heat exchanger (26).
b) and condenses by receiving cold from the refrigerant in the primary refrigerant circuit (2). The condensed liquid refrigerant returns to the refrigerant pump (11). The above refrigerant circulation operation is performed in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10).

By the refrigerant circulation operation in each of the refrigerant circuits (2, 10), cold is transferred from the primary refrigerant circuit (2) to the secondary refrigerant circuit (10), and the room is cooled.

(Ice making operation) Next, the ice making operation will be described. In this operation, the primary refrigerant circuit (2)
The compressor (21) is driven. Also, the refrigerant pump (11) and the water pump (42) are driven. The opening of the electric expansion valve (23) of the primary refrigerant circuit (2) is adjusted. The third motor-operated valve (EV3) of the secondary-side refrigerant circuit (10) is opened, and the other motor-operated valves (EV1, EV2) are closed.

In the primary refrigerant circuit (2), the refrigerant circulates in the same manner as in the normal cooling operation described above.

On the other hand, in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10), the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant pump (11) is supplied to the second branch pipe of the bypass pipe (13).
The refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant pipe (24a) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24 ') via (13b). This refrigerant evaporates by performing heat exchange with water in the water circulation circuit (3). At this time, cold water is given to the water in the water circulation circuit (3), and this water is in a supercooled state. The evaporated refrigerant flows into the secondary flow path (26b) of the intermediate heat exchanger (26) and
The refrigerant in the secondary refrigerant circuit (2) receives cold heat and condenses. The condensed liquid refrigerant returns to the refrigerant pump (11). The above refrigerant circulation operation is performed in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10).

In the water circulation circuit (3), water taken out of the heat storage tank (41) flows into the water pipe (24b) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24 ') by the water pump (42). In this heat storage heat exchanger (24 '), water receives cold heat from the refrigerant in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10). Thereby, the water is cooled to a supercooled state. The supercooled water is released from the supercooling in the supercooling elimination section (43), and becomes slurry ice. This ice is collected in the heat storage tank (41) and stored as a cold heat source.

The operation of supplying the ice into the heat storage tank (41) is as follows.
This is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, at the beginning of the ice supply operation, ice is supplied from the lower branch pipe (49),
When a certain amount of ice is stored, the operation is switched to the supply of ice from the upper branch pipe (48). Thereby, it is possible to store a sufficient amount of ice while preventing the ice from flowing out of the heat storage tank (41).

(Cold Heat Utilization Operation) Next, the cold heat utilization operation will be described. In this operation, the compressor (21) of the primary refrigerant circuit (2) is not driven. Meanwhile, refrigerant pump
(11) and the water pump (42) are driven. The third motor-operated valve (EV3) of the secondary refrigerant circuit (10) is closed, and the other motor-operated valves (EV1, EV1
2) open.

The cold water cooled by the ice (I) in the heat storage tank (41) is taken out of the heat storage tank (41), and passed through a water pump (42) to the water pipe (24b) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24 '). Flows into. Here, the cold water exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the secondary-side refrigerant circuit (10) to increase in temperature. At this time, cold heat is given to the refrigerant in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10). The water whose temperature has risen returns to the heat storage tank (41), and is cooled by ice in the heat storage tank (41).

On the other hand, in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10), the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant pump (11) is adjusted in flow rate by the first electric valve (EV1) and supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (51). This refrigerant exchanges heat with room air and evaporates. At this time, cool air is given to the indoor air, and this cool heat contributes to indoor cooling. This evaporated refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant pipe (24a) of the heat storage heat exchanger (24 ').
And condenses by receiving cold from the water in the water circulation circuit (3). The condensed liquid refrigerant returns to the refrigerant pump (11). The above refrigerant circulation operation is performed in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10).

The water circulation operation in the water circulation circuit (3) and the refrigerant circulation operation in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10) allow the heat storage tank (4) to operate.
1) The cold stored inside is transferred to the indoor heat exchanger (51),
The room is cooled.

(Other Operation Operations) In the normal heating operation operation, the four-way switching valve (27) switches to the broken line side in the figure. In the intermediate heat exchanger (26), warm heat is given to the refrigerant circulating in the secondary refrigerant circuit (10), and the refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (51) to heat the room.

At the time of the thermal storage operation for storing the hot water in the thermal storage tank (41), the four-way switching valve (27) switches to the broken line side in the figure. The refrigerant having received the heat in the intermediate heat exchanger (26) heats the water in the heat storage heat exchanger (24 '). Thereby, warm water is generated, and the warm water is stored in the heat storage tank (41).

In the heat operation using the heat of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank (41) to heat the room, the pumps (11, 42) are driven and the heat storage heat exchanger (24 ') is driven. In (2), the refrigerant in the secondary-side refrigerant circuit (10) receiving the heat from the hot water exchanges heat with the indoor air to contribute to heating.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the air conditioner (1) in which the secondary refrigerant system is provided with the water circulation circuit (3) capable of cold storage. For this reason, the heat storage tank (4
While it is possible to store a sufficient amount of ice in 1), it is possible to avoid a situation in which the ice flows out of the extraction pipe (45) in the operation of supplying ice.

[0081]

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiments, the case where the ice heat storage device according to the present invention is applied to an air conditioner is described. The present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be used as an ice heat storage device applied to other refrigeration devices.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the upper branch pipe (48, 92) is composed of a plurality of branch pipes extending substantially in the horizontal direction, and these branch pipes are arranged in the vertical direction. in this case,
During the operation of supplying ice (I) from the upper branch pipes (48, 92), ice is supplied from the lowermost branch pipe of the vertically arranged branch pipes.
When (I) is supplied and the branch pipe is closed by ice (I), ice (I) is supplied from the upper branch pipe. In this way, the operation is sequentially switched from the upper branch pipe to the supply operation of ice (I). Therefore, a relatively large amount of ice (I) can be stored above the liquid level (L), and the amount of heat stored in the heat storage tank (41) can be increased.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, the heat storage tank
The supply pipe (46) for supplying ice (I) to (41) branches up and down,
At the beginning of the supply of (I), the heat storage tank (41) is connected from the lower branch pipe (49).
The ice (I) is supplied along the liquid level (L) inside, so that the ice (I) is supplied to the heat storage tank (41) in a state where the potential energy is small. When a certain amount of ice (I) is stored in the heat storage tank (41), the collected ice is collected from above the liquid level (L) in the heat storage tank (41) by the upper branch pipe (48). Ice is dropped and supplied to the upper side of (I). This allows the heat storage tank to be used in any supply state.
(41) Prevent ice from flowing out from inside. For this reason,
The operation of supplying the ice (I) into the heat storage tank (41) can be favorably performed, and a sufficient amount of ice (I) can be stored in the heat storage tank (41). As a result, the performance of the ice heat storage device can be improved.

In particular, the downstream end of the lower branch pipe (49) is branched into a plurality of outflow pipes (49c, 49d, 49e), and a part of the outflow pipe (49c)
Is opened in a direction different from that of the other outflow pipes (49d, 49e), ice (I) can be supplied over a wide range on the liquid level (L). For this reason, ice that makes effective use of the internal volume of the heat storage tank (41)
(I) can be stored. Also, since ice (I) exists over a wide range of the liquid surface (L), when the supply is switched to the supply of ice (I) from the upper branch pipe (48, 92), the ice (I) dropped and supplied Can be reliably received by the ice (I) on the liquid level (L), and the outflow of ice (I) from the heat storage tank (41) can be reliably prevented.

Further, when a plurality of supply holes (93c, 93c,...) Are formed in the horizontal portion (93b) of the lower branch pipe (93), a heat storage medium (45) for taking out cold heat from the heat storage tank (41). W) from the horizontal portion (93b) of the lower branch pipe (93) into the heat storage tank (41), the heat storage medium is supplied from the plurality of supply holes (93c, 93c,...). (I) can be supplied. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a high cold heat extraction efficiency. Further, when adopting a configuration in which cold heat is taken out from the heat storage tank (41) by the heat storage medium (W) supplied in the horizontal direction near the liquid surface (L) from the lower branch pipe (93), ice ( The melting of the upper part of I) and the floating of the ice due to the buoyancy acting on the ice (I) are repeated. Therefore, there is no occurrence of `` Mizumichi '' in which the heat storage medium (W) flows through only a part of the ice (I), and the ice (I) can be melted efficiently, and the amount of cold heat taken out of the heat storage tank (41) Can be increased.

Further, the diameter of the downstream end of the upper branch pipe (48, 92) is reduced to form a narrowed portion (48a, 92a), so that ice (I) is formed at the downstream end of the upper branch pipe (48, 92). ), Flow of ice (I) to the lower branch pipe (49) can be ensured at the beginning of the operation of supplying ice (I) to the heat storage tank (41). This makes it possible to reliably improve the performance of the ice heat storage device. In addition, even when the configuration using the lower branch pipe (93) for cold heat extraction is adopted, the heat storage medium can be reliably flowed to the lower branch pipe (49), thereby improving the cold heat extraction efficiency. It can be achieved reliably.

When the upper branch pipe (48, 92) is composed of a plurality of branch pipes extending substantially in the horizontal direction, and these branch pipes are arranged vertically, ice from the upper branch pipe (48, 92) During the supply operation of (I), the operation is sequentially switched from the upper branch pipe to the supply operation of ice (I). Therefore, a relatively large amount of ice (I) can be stored above the liquid level (L), and the amount of heat stored in the heat storage tank (41) can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a piping diagram of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of the heat storage tank.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a downstream end portion of a supply pipe.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of supplying ice into a heat storage tank.

FIG. 5 is a piping diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 2.

6A is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 according to the second embodiment, and FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 7A is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 according to a modification of the second embodiment,
(b) is a diagram corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a piping diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a conventional example in which a supply pipe is arranged above the water surface.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional example in which a supply pipe is arranged on the water surface.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Air conditioner (41) Heat storage tank (46) Supply pipe (47,91) Branch pipe (48,92) Upper branch pipe (48a, 92a) Restrictor (49,93) Lower branch pipe (49a, 93a) Vertical part (49b, 93b) Horizontal part (49c-49e) Branch pipe (outflow pipe) (9) Shared pipe (supply pipe) (L) Liquid level (water level) (I) Ice (W) Water (heat storage medium) )

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhide Mizutani 1304 Kanaokacho, Sakai-shi, Osaka Daikin Industries Sakai Works Kanaoka Plant

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A heat storage medium (W) taken out of a heat storage tank (41)
To produce ice (I), and supply the ice (I) into the heat storage tank (41) by the supply pipe (46) to store cold heat in the heat storage tank (41). The supply pipe (46) is connected to an upper branch pipe (48) via a branch (47).
And a lower branch pipe (49) .The downstream end of the upper branch pipe (48) is open at a position higher than the liquid level (L) of the heat storage medium (W), while An ice heat storage device characterized in that the downstream end of the branch pipe (49) is opened horizontally at the level of the liquid level (L). 2. The ice heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the upper branch pipe (48) extends horizontally from the branch part (47), while the lower branch pipe (49) has a branch part (47). Vertical section extending downward from
(49a) and a horizontal portion (49b) extending horizontally from the lower end of the vertical portion (49a) along the liquid surface (L). 3. The ice heat storage device according to claim 2, wherein the downstream end portion of the lower branch pipe (49) has a plurality of outlet pipes (49c, 49).
d, 49e), and these outlet pipes (49c, 49d, 49e)
An ice heat storage device characterized in that a part (49c) is open in a direction different from that of the other outflow pipes (49d, 49e). 4. A heat storage medium (W) taken out of a heat storage tank (41).
To generate ice (I), and supply the ice (I) into the heat storage tank (41) by the supply pipe (9) to store cold heat in the heat storage tank (41). The supply pipe (9) is connected to an upper branch pipe (92) via a branch (91).
And a lower branch pipe (93) .The downstream end of the upper branch pipe (92) is open at a position higher than the liquid level (L) of the heat storage medium (W). The branch pipe (93) extends horizontally in the heat storage tank (41) at the level of the liquid surface (L) and has a plurality of supply holes ( 93c, 93c, ...). 5. The ice heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein a downstream end of the upper branch pipe (48, 92) is formed in a throttle section (48a, 92a) having a reduced pipe diameter. An ice heat storage device characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The ice heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the upper branch pipe (48, 92) comprises a plurality of branch pipes extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and these branch pipes are arranged in a vertical direction. An ice heat storage device, characterized in that: